History Main / BatFamilyCrossOver

It's named for its repeated use by the group of superheroes around Gotham City, since so much happens in Gotham that affects everyone in the city, but has limited, if any effect on TheDCU, with Franchise/{{Batman}} usually [[SupermanStaysOutOfGotham ordering all of the other heroes to stay out]]. ''Maybe'' Franchise/{{Superman}} will show up for a issue or two, but only because, well, [[WolverinePublicity he's Superman]].

** X-Men's "X-Overs" are really the {{Ur Example}}s[=/=]{{Trope Codifier}}s, with 1986's "Mutant Massacre" arc spread out in the three then-current X-Men comics at the time (''Uncanny X-Men, X-Factor,'' and ''The New Mutants'', and even branched into an issue of ''The Mighty Thor'').

* Kamen Riders often meet each other in their movies, although given the sheer [[FantasyKitchenSink variety]] of the Franchise/KamenRider verse, this could count more as a CrisisCrossover. The upcoming ''Film/KamenRiderXSuperSentaiSuperHeroTaisen'' wanders into CrisisCrossover territory.

** The single player mode ''SuperSmashBrosBrawl '' makes this seem this way for all of Nintendo's Franchises. And [[Franchise/MetalGear two]] [[SonicTheHedgehog outsiders]].

** ''Batman: [[BruceWayneFugitive Bruce Wayne: Murderer/Fugitive]]''. Again, Franchise/{{Superman}} made an appearance, but....

** ''The Resurrection of Ra's Al Ghul'' and ''BatmanRIP'' are two examples from 2008. However, ''RIP'''s true conclusion, [[spoiler:the [[FateWorseThanDeath "death"]] of Batman]], occurs in ''FinalCrisis''.

** ''TheDeathOfSuperman'' (see below) did have a minor in-universe ripple, which would be the Green Lantern crossover "Emerald Twilight," encompassing the main GL book, ''Guy Gardner: Warrior'' and ''Green Lantern Corps Quarterly''. The event ended ''Corps Quarterly'' and caused its own extremely minor ripple when Hal Jordan destroyed Guy Gardner's ring and set off his new search for powers (which crossed over with ''Green Lantern'' again and the anthology series ''Showcase'').
** The franchise has had recurring Lantern Family Crossovers since GeoffJohns took over the main book in the 2000s:
*** ''SinestroCorpsWar'' in 2007, which crossed over between ''Green Lantern'' and ''Green Lantern Corps''; the war's final battle took place on Earth, and was touched on in the otherwise unrelated title ''BlueBeetle''. People like Superman and the Teen Titans did figure into some tie-ins as well, but only as background or extended cameos.
*** ''BlackestNight'' (2009) was originally envisioned as one of these before being expanded to full-blown CrisisCrossover status. This was partially because of some sentiment that the aforementioned ''Sinestro Corps War'' had been a missed opportunity for the wider DCU. This led directly into a year-long CrossThrough, ''BrightestDay'', where the Lantern books (including a new one, ''Emerald Warriors'') continued to have connected storylines in that everything was being manipulated by a single villain.

** ''[[TheDeathOfSuperman The Death and Return of Superman]]''. Actually DID affect the rest of the Universe, most notably the destruction of Coast City. But did any of this occur outside of Superman's own books? Not really.

** 2012 gives us ''ComicBook/HelOnEarth'', which has {{Superman}}, ComicBook/{{Superboy}} and ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} trying to stop a mysterious Kryptonian from resurrecting Krypton at the expense of Earth. The only Super-book not involved is ComicBook/ActionComics, as that takes place 5 years before events of the other three.

* The vast majority of the various Comicbook/{{X-Men}} crossovers are {{Bat Family Crossover}}s, as they seldom have any effect on anyone but the various groups of mutants that appear in them. (For example, the majority of the stories involving the alien Phalanx.) The "X-Overs" are actually an every-year-or-so tradition, and tend to have lasting effects (such as Apocalypse's introduction and Angel's transformation into Archangel in "Fall of the Mutants," and Generation X's creation in "Phalanx Covenant.")

** 2011 has one of these with the [[SpiritualSuccessor AoA inspired]] [[AlternateUniverse Age of X]] storyline running through ''X-Men: Legacy'' and ''NewMutants''.
* Any number of [[TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks Golden Age]] Marvel Family (the ''{{Shazam}}!'' group) crossovers, who might be the originators of this.
* [[MarvelUniverse Marvel's]] ''ComicBook/{{Annihilation}}'' wasn't a crossover, but a set of linked MiniSeries where a tyrant from another universe broke into ours and started conquering and destroying alien empires; this had no effect on the heroes on Earth, who were, at about the same time, going through ''ComicBook/CivilWar''.

** And again in an issue of ''Comicbook/{{Exiles}}'' set in a world where the Annihilation Wave had been ''directed'' at Earth; apparently Annihilus was defeated by the Comicbook/IncredibleHulk between ''PlanetHulk'' and ''WorldWarHulk'', and he decided this would be an effective means of getting his vengeance.

* ''The Children's Crusade'' was a crossover through the Creator/VertigoComics annuals in 1993-94. Although this was during the time Vertigo was part of TheDCU (especially the titles involved: ''Comicbook/BlackOrchid'', ''Comicbook/SwampThing'', ''Comicbook/AnimalMan'' and ''Comicbook/DoomPatrol''; characters from ''Comicbook/TheSandman'' and ''ComicBook/{{Hellblazer}}'' were featured, but didn't get titles), no non-Vertigo characters even noticed.
* TheDCU also had ''Trinity'', in which their three SpacePolice organisations, the Comicbook/GreenLantern Corps, the Darkstars and [[Comicbook/{{Legion Of Super-Heroes}} L.E.G.I.O.N.]] had to work together against ancient Maltusian entities that predated the Guardians and Controllers.
* ''Black Reign'', a crossover between ''[[JusticeSocietyOfAmerica JSA]]'' and ''{{Hawkman}}'', both written by GeoffJohns at the time.
* ''Way of the Warrior'', a crossover between ''[[JusticeLeagueOfAmerica Justice League America]]'', ''[[Comicbook/GreenLantern Guy Gardner: Warrior]]'' and ''{{Hawkman}}''.

* "Convergence", a crossover between the four titles of TheDCU's "Weirdoverse" (a late 90s group of titles that amounted to "Vertigo Lite"): ''ChallengersOfTheUnknown''; ''Comicbook/ScareTactics''; ''[[DoctorFate The Book Of Fate]]''; and ''Night Force''.
* ''Comicbook/{{Shadowland}}'' did this for Marvel's street-level heroes, such as {{Daredevil}}, LukeCage and ThePunisher.

* ''FallOfTheHulks'' for ''Comicbook/IncredibleHulk'' and ''[[RedHulk Hulk]]'', plus a number of minis and one-shots.

* "ComicBook/TrinityWar" has the ''[[JusticeLeagueOfAmerica Justice League]]'', ''[[ComicBook/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica2013 Justice League of America]]'', and ''JusticeLeagueDark'' involved in a confrontation between the Trinity of Sin: [[ComicBook/TrinityOfSinPandora Pandora]], ComicBook/ThePhantomStranger, and TheQuestion.

* [[SpiderMan Spider-Man's]] [[ComicBook/TheCloneSaga Clone Saga]] was essentially one of these, albeit one stretched out for OVER TWO YEARS, and requiring you to read all four Spider-Man titles to follow.
** A shorter followup to the Clone Saga was ''Identity Crisis'' ([[IdentityCrisis no, not that one]]), in which Spider-Man creates four new heroic identities after a $5 million bounty makes it hard to operate in his normal identity.
** 2011 has a big Spider-Man centric story coming in the form of SpiderIsland which does include other Marvel characters but is contained to the main Spider-Man title, 2 tie-in minis, a one-shot and tie in through Venom's title.

* "ComicBook/TrinityWar" has the ''[[JusticeLeagueOfAmerica Justice League]]'', ''[[ComicBook/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica2013 Justice League of America]]'', and ''JusticeLeagueDark'' involved in a confrontation between the Trinity of Sin: [[ComicBook/TrinityOfSinPandora Pandora]], ThePhantomStranger, and TheQuestion.

** 2012 gives us ''ComicBook/HelOnEarth'', which has {{Superman}}, {{Superboy}} and ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} trying to stop a mysterious Kryptonian from ressurecting Krypton at the expense of Earth. The only Super-book not involved is ComicBook/ActionComics, as that takes place 5 years before events of the other three.

* ''The Janus Directive'' was a 1989 crossover between DC's secret-ops-themed titles: ''SuicideSquad'', ''{{Checkmate}}'', ''CaptainAtom'', ''Comicbook/{{Manhunter}}'', and ''Firestorm''.
* ''The Children's Crusade'' was a crossover through the VertigoComics annuals in 1993-94. Although this was during the time Vertigo was part of TheDCU (especially the titles involved: ''Comicbook/BlackOrchid'', ''Comicbook/SwampThing'', ''Comicbook/AnimalMan'' and ''Comicbook/DoomPatrol''; characters from ''Comicbook/TheSandman'' and ''ComicBook/{{Hellblazer}}'' were featured, but didn't get titles), no non-Vertigo characters even noticed.

* ''Film/AMuppetFamilyChristmas'', which goes beyond the regular Muppet cast to include other cornerstones of the creations of JimHenson, such as ''Series/SesameStreet'', ''FraggleRock'', and ''MuppetBabies''.

* [[SpiderMan Spider-Man's]] [[TheCloneSaga Clone Saga]] was essentially one of these, albeit one stretched out for OVER TWO YEARS, and requiring you to read all four Spider-Man titles to follow.

* The BigFinishDoctorWho 50th anniversary MilestoneCelebration ''[[Recap/BigFinishDoctorWhoSpecialsTheLightAtTheEnd The Light at the End]]'' is essentially a Bat-Family Crossover between the Eighth Doctor Series, the Fourth Doctor Series and the Main Series (5th, 6th and 7th). (A full blown CrisisCrossover would have included BerniceSummerfield, AudioPlay/{{Gallifrey}}, Jago & Lightfoot, and the Intrusion Countermeasures Group).

** The most famous and arguably successful of these crossovers is AgeOfApocalypse.

* The BigFinishDoctorWho 50th anniversary MilestoneCelebration ''[[Recap/BigFinishDoctorWhoSpecialsTheLightAtTheEnd The Light at the End]]'' is essentially a Bat-Family Crossover between the Eighth Doctor Series, the Fourth Doctor Series and the Main Series (5th, 6th and 7th).

* There was talk of doing one of these for ''Series/LawAndOrder'', ''LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit'', and ''LawAndOrderCriminalIntent'' when the latter launched, with all three shows investigating a potential terrorist attack on New York City from different angles. [[TooSoon And then 9/11 happened.]]

* 'The ''VideoGame/StreetFighterAlpha'' prequel series formally introduced the ''VideoGame/FinalFight'' cast to the Franchise/StreetFighter with the addition of Guy and Sodom in the first entry, followed by Rolento in ''Alpha 2'' and Cody in ''Alpha 3''. There's even an entire stage in both, ''Alpha 2'' and ''Alpha 3'', featuring the rest of the ''Final Fight'' cast cheering on the fight. The ''StreetFighterIII'' series added another ''Final Fight'' alumni to the roster with the addition of Hugo (formerly known as Andore) in ''[=2nd Impact=]'' and Poison appears as playable fighter in ''StreetFighterXTekken'' and the upcoming ''Ultra StreetFighterIV'' after having a passive role as Hugo's manager in ''III''.

* Whether it be ''VideoGame/MarioKart'', ''VideoGame/MarioParty'', or the plethora of sports titles based on the ''SuperMarioBros.'' series, you'll be sure they'll add some characters and settings from the ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry'' series. In fact, [[WhatCouldHaveBeen they were planning to have Donkey Kong himself participate in]] ''[[{{Crossover}} Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games]]'' (DK's model was ultimately DummiedOut, but he made it into the sequel). They also threw in ''VideoGame/{{WarioWare}}'' in these titles, though its representation is not as pronounced. All we got basically was art of Wario from the ''[=WarioWare=]'' series on the walls of ''Mario Power Tennis''[='=]s Wario Factory stage, and the Wario Bike in ''Mario Kart Wii'' -- none of Wario's supporting cast from the ''[=WarioWare=]'' series has actually shown up in these games yet.

A lesser version of the CrisisCrossover, but bigger than a regular {{Crossover}}, is the BatFamilyCrossover, which typically occurs around a group of titles that are related by the heroes appearing in them or the location in which they take place.

** ''WarOfKings'' is mostly about the Inhumans and the Shi'ar, but includes a BatFamilyCrossover between the two titles that launched out of ''Annihilation''; ''GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'' and ''Nova''.

** We could technically add ''WiiSportsResort'' into the mix since Wuhu Island ends up having not one, but ''two'' courses in Mario Kart 7, as well as a battle arena dedicated to a portion of the island.
** Though not officially canon for any of the games, SuperSmashBrosBrawl 's single player mode makes this seem this way for all of Nintendo's Franchises. And [[Franchise/MetalGear two]] [[SonicTheHedgehog outsiders]].

** The War of the Robins mini-arc that ran in issues 10-12 of Batman and Robin in 2012. Which is about the current Robin (Damien Wayne) going up against the [[LegacyCharacter previous Robins]] one-by-one to prove himself.

*** ''WrathOfTheFirstLantern'' in 2013.

** ''The Crossing'', where [[strike: Kang]] [[RetCon Immortus]] manipulates one of the Avengers into becoming a murderer.

*** ''Rise of the Third Army'' in 2012.
*** ''Wrath of the First Lantern'' in 2013.

It's named for its repeated use by the group of superheroes around Gotham City, since so much happens in Gotham that affects everyone in the city, but has limited, if any effect on TheDCU, with {{Comicbook/Batman}} usually [[SupermanStaysOutOfGotham ordering all of the other heroes to stay out]]. ''Maybe'' {{Comicbook/Superman}} will show up for a issue or two, but only because, well, [[WolverinePublicity he's Superman]].

* From the {{Comicbook/Batman}} titles themselves, and the {{Trope Namer}}s, though not the {{Trope Codifier}}s:
** ''Batman: {{Knightfall}}''

** ''BatmanNoMansLand''. {{Comicbook/Superman}} did make two appearances, but left both times after being shown that he was basically useless in a situation like the one Gotham was in at that point.

** ''Batman: [[BruceWayneFugitive Bruce Wayne: Murderer/Fugitive]]''. Again, {{Comicbook/Superman}} made an appearance, but....